February 15, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: James James

As with last week’s Tombstone Tueday, the photograph this week shows another Tombstone on the wall at St. Mary’s, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

James James is the husband of Catherine Read (whose tombstone was featured last week). (Catherine James (nee Read) is the granddaughter of my 6 x great grandfather Cozens Read).

James James was a lawyer and was very well known in and around Aylesbury. I have heard that he seems to have been a little naughty with client’s money, but don’t know the truth of that rumour and I am still trying to discover more about it!!

Original photograph taken by me a few years ago - copyright 2011

Transcript of Monumental Inscription for James James

Beneath are deposited the Remains of

JAMES JAMES, Gentleman

who died the 7th of December 1808

Aged 39 Years

And of JOHN, one of the Sons

of the said JAMES JAMES

by CATHERINE his first wife;

who died the 8th of August 1800

Aged 3 Years and 7 Months

Also of ELIZABETH his widow who departed this Life

the 12th of May 1830 Aged 63 Years

And of their Son JOHN who departed this Life the 11th of May 1813

Aged 5 Years and 10 Months

I was very pleased to find this tombstone as it gave the information that James James had married again after Catherine died. I know from Catherine’s Uncle Michael’s Will dated 1820 that she had 3 sons with James James. I have only found two, John and James. I don’t know anything about James James’ second wife Elizabeth apart from what is mentioned on this tombstone. I don’t know if the son John he had with Elizabeth was their only child or if there are more children.

It seems I have a fair bit of investigating to do concerning this family group, as well as looking into the rumours about what James James really did!!

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YOUR ANCESTORS

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row
Would you be proud of them
Or don't you really know?
Some strange discoveries are made
In climbing family trees
And some of them, you know
Do not particularly please!

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row
There might be some of them, perhaps
You wouldn't care to know
But here's another question, which
Requires a different view ...
If you could meet your ancestors
Would they be proud of you?(Author unknown)